Why Ross Barkley is central to Everton’s hopes this season

by Guilherme Neto

Ross Barkley is one of the most talented, younger prospects in the Premier League and the midfielder has enjoyed an incredible start to the new season, scoring two goals for Everton and one in England’s 6-0 victory at San Marino earlier this month. The midfielder is quick, aggressive and hungry – not unlike a young Wayne Rooney, who also began his career at Goodison Park when he was just a teenager.

Barkley is a phenomenal talent and is capable of embarrassing some of the top flight’s best defences. Although he didn’t score in Everton’s recent 3-1 victory at home against Chelsea, Barkley was central to their efforts and produced the kind of performance that a seasoned veteran would be proud of. He has been a key component of their success in the early stages of the season and that will only increase as he matures and plays a more potent role in Everton’s attacking unit.

While Bookies.com believe that Chelsea’s performance was just incredibly disappointing in their defeat to Everton, others have suggested that it may be down to Barkley’s genius and Roberto Martinez’s tactical nous. The former Wigan Athletic manager, who turned down the vacant position at Liverpool earlier in his career, deserves plenty of praise for Barkley’s transformation after the midfielder struggled to make an impact on proceedings at Goodison Park.

Ross Barkley wearing a Everton FC jersey

The 21-year-old has been linked with a transfer to a number of England’s elite clubs but the midfielder remains fully focussed on Everton and climbing the Premier League table. The Toffees have shown plenty of vigour and directness in the early stages of the campaign and their excellent, energetic performances have certainly merited the results that they have picked up in recent weeks. For more Everton news, odds and articles, visit Bookies.com and they can keep you updated on all the latest information and breaking news.

The England international has a budding relationship with Romelu Lukaku in the Toffees attack and the two have already combined to devastating effect in the early stages of the new campaign. Barkley and Lukaku were almost unplayable against Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium and Martinez will look to exploit opposing defences by utilising their two main men in attacking areas. For Barkley to be totally effective, he must be given the ball in dangerous areas on a regular basis.

Ross Barkley is far from the finished product but there are plenty of promising signs to suggest that the midfielder is well on his way to becoming one of the best midfielders in the country. If he continues this level of form, bigger clubs will come in for him but Everton will be desperate to keep hold of their talisman. Next up for Everton is an away trip to fellow high flyers Swansea City and it is more than likely that Barkley will have a key role to play if the Toffees are to pick up all three points at the Liberty Stadium next week.